The one hundred and seventy second weekly "No shit, Sherlock" award or a Conservative MP gets it

The Telegraph report this:

'Bernard Jenkin, chairman of the Public Administration Committee, appeared to accuse the broadcaster of bias as he was asked about splits within the Conservative Party on Europe.

He predicted that James Naughtie, his interviewer on BBC Radio Four's Today Programme, would be more deferential to the next guest, Lord Brittan, a former member of the European Commission and ex-Home Secretary.

"I appreciate the BBC wants to talk about the the Conservative Party but let's talk about the issue," he said.

Told he was being "silly", Mr Jenkin hit back: "I bet you're going to treat Leon Brittan with a lot more deference than you treat me because the BBC is not exactly a haven for Eurosceptics as we know

Mr Naughtie responded to the jibe by saying: "Oh for goodness sake, let's try to be serious about this".'

The BBC more respectful of Europhiles than Eurosceptics? "No shit, Sherlock"

But will this revelation encourage Bernard Jenkin or the Conservative Party  to tackle the BBC on its bias? I doubt it.

As for James Naughtie deploying the "Oh for goodness sake, let's try to be serious about this".' line, remember that James Naughtie is hardly politically impartial... Remember this slip?

That charmless man

I heard the BBC Radio 4 Toady programme's interview with Ed 'second choice' Balls yesterday morning. What a sycophantic interview by James "If we win the election" Naughtie. Interviews by Naughtie and Humphrys with Conservative ministers are full of interruptions to break the interviewee's train of thought and aggressive questions.This interview was far more genial. There were some tough questions but these were put almost apologetically, in the spirit of 'I hope you know that I have to ask this question but don't worry I won't pursue the matter, whatever you respond.'

The general tone of the interview was very matey, talk of football and gentle ribbing; in the way that friends or workmates do.  I doubt that George Osborne will be similarly treated as one of the gang next week.


I do hope that (Beed Biased) Craig was listening to the interview and will be comparing it with the one that George Osborne will be subjected to next week. I expect the interruption coefficients to be very different.

A slip of the tongue or what the supposedly Labour supporting James Naughtie really thinks of Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt?

James "If we win the election" Naughtie trying to say "Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary" and committing an interesting Spoonerism.


Thanks to Guido Fawkes for the video.

Where's the indignation? Where's the marches? Where's the denunciations? Where's the UN resolutions?

The BBC quietly report that:

'Turkish troops in pursuit of Kurdish rebels have crossed into northern Iraq and killed four militants, Turkish officials say.

The military said air strikes were also launched against rebel positions deeper inside Iraqi territory.

The offensive took place after rebels made an unsuccessful attack on border guards, Turkish officials said.

Turkey has been fighting insurgents of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) for more than a quarter of a century.

Military officials said three commando companies and one special forces battalion penetrated 3km (two miles) into Iraq in pursuit of the rebels.

The PKK is fighting for autonomy in Turkey's largely Kurdish south-east.

The group is considered a terrorist group, not just by Turkey but by the US and the EU.

More than 40,000 people are believed to have died in the conflict, on both sides. '

That's it, a small report not headline news. If an Israeli soldier so much as farts in the direction of Gaza its headline news but as Israel is not involved here it is a minor story. 40,000 deaths and how much coverage has this 'conflict' had over the years? 4 deaths this time and not a peep from James Naughtie, Jeremy Paxman or Jon Snow. Will they be interviewing a spokesman for the Turkish government and accusing them of using disproportionate force? If not, why not?

Note also that in this report the BBC report that the PKK 'is considered a terrorist group, not just by Turkey but by the US and the EU.'. No mention of Hamas's terrorist status in any stories about Israel and Hamas though.

Ken Clarke making mincemeat of Paddy Ashdown on Radio 4

Sorry I can't face BBC TV and so am listening to Radio 4 even though it means Jim 'if we win the election' Naughtie.

This is one of the results of the BBC's hard work over recent weeks

The BBC's currency page shows what fears of a hung parliament have done to the markets:
Sterling down 2.33% today against the Dollar
Sterling down .86% today against the Euro
Sterling down 5.52% against the Yen

Is that what you wanted Jim Naughtie? Is that what you hoped for Nicky Campbell? Is that what you wanted John Humphrys? Is the champagne yet on ice at Broadcasting House?

"James Naughtie is stupid"

Not my words but those that a visitor to my blog had put into Yahoo and my blog came a very respectable second in the list of search results.

The end of the line for Gordon Brown?

When James Naughtie gives Gordon Brown a relatively hard time in an interview, as he did on the Today programme this morning, it looks that Gordon Brown's time may be up. However this does not mean that the BBC is moving, like The Sun, from supporting Labour to the Conservatives. What it may mean is that the BBC has realised that the best way of keeping the Conservatives out is to have Gordon Brown replaced by a more (could there be a less) congenial and credible Labour leader. When James "When we win the election" Naughtie is anything other than totally supportive, is there any hope for Gordon Brown?

One might almost feel sorry for Gordon Brown were he not a complete and another disaster for this country.

Two final words on the Today interview this morning; first that Gordon Brown just trotted out his favourite lines from previous years, it was like listening to a Gordon Brown tribute act. Second that for once I agree with Gordon Brown, Labour are like "insurgents", seemingly dedicated to the destruction of the UK economy.

The wise elder statesman - Neil Kinnock

Following Neil Kinnock's interview with James Naughtie this morning explaining so reasonably how wonderful Gordon Brown is, I thought people should be reminded of Neil Kinnock in full intellectual flow some years ago. Do also note how James "If we win the election" Naughtie tries to help him out and gives him a second go at the whole interview before broadcast.

You can hear the interview here.

I wonder if James "If we win the election" Naughtie would take the same line now with David Cameron as he did then with Neil Kinnock?

"...as you said quite rightly, look it's not our problem, we wouldn't be here if we'd been imposing our policies for the last five years, it's up to them."

Bolstering Brown

Take a listen to the 07:44 piece on the Today programme with Neil Kinnock. It was billed as

"One opinion poll has put Labour in third place behind the Liberal Democrats. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is under pressure to make the speech of his life to rally support within the party. Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who had his own painful tussles with the electorate, discusses how to change the opinion of those who do not warm to a leader."

and was a very soft interview allowing Neil Kinnock free reign to make the most absurd assertions about Gordon Brown's abilities without any real challenge. Gordon Brown was we were told the right man to deal with the Country's economic problems, the fact that Gordon Brown was the man who caused most of them with his stoking of debt in order to engineer an endless boom was ignored. Listening to James Naughtie and Neil Kinnock chat away it was clear that the BBC is in 'bolster Brown' mode and will remain so right up until the Labour party elect a new leader.

I wonder if, on the morning of David Cameron's speech to the Conservative Party conference, the Today programme will have an interview with a Tory grandee who will be given five minutes to explain why David Cameron is best suited to being Prime Minister. I doubt it but even if there was such an interview I wonder whether the Today presenter will be as amenable to the assertions being made as James "If we win the election" Naughtie was today.

The wake

The BBC Today programme this morning sounds like a cross between a wake and a piece of Labour Party navel gazing. Even James Naughtie in his interview with Harriet Harman sounds like he is losing patience with his party. He even pushed Harriet Harman more than most Today interviewers have in the past, although he still deferred to let her spout the usual mix of platitudes and prepared soundbites.

Another impartial BBC reporter

BBC Radio 5Live's Anita Anand showing her complete impartiality.

I wonder if James "Jim" Naughtie, who seemed to be on the verge of ecstasy in this morning's nauseating "reporting" from Washington DC, is wearing any Barack Obama memorabilia or is just keeping a place warm in his heart for the new POTUS.

The adulation continues

For yet another day, the promoting of Barack Obama's campaign is continuing on the BBC' news website. The headline story today is once again Obama related, this time it is the definitely not straight news reporting of his speech last night:

"Obama launches historic campaign - Barack Obama promises to keep the American dream alive as he accepts his historic Democratic nomination for the White House.
Obama: US can be better
Justin Webb: Clever stuff
In pictures: Democrats in Denver
Obama speech - full text
Denver diary: Primetime policies
US election at-a-glance: 28 Aug"

With Justin Webb and James Naughtie giving their regular adulatory pieces on the Today programme this week, the campaigning has been incessant. I wonder how the BBC will report the Republican convention next week. Somehow I doubt it will be reported as extensively or as positively as the Democrat convention. Somehow I doubt that John McCain will receive coverage even 10% as positive as that accorded Barack Obama. Rather than unquestioningly supportive coverage of the various party figures such as Bill Clinton and Edward Kennedy, however questionable their past behaviour, as has been the case this week; next week I predict that the coverage will be carping and cynical.

Impartial, my ass!

Impartial my ass, to paraphrase Gil Scott-Heron, would seem to be the verdict on David Dimbleby's chairing of the London Mayoral Question Time. Read this for more detail.

I fail to see why anyone is surprised that a BBC big beast is biased towards his masters at the Labour party. What about Humphrys and Naughtie doing their best to set the pro-Labour agenda every day on the Toady programme. Then there is Victoria Derbyshire and Simon Mayo with their Labour love-ins on Radio 5-Live. Pro-Labour bias at the BBC is endemic and probably not removable.

An end to the era of celebrity?

I have blogged before about Gordon Brown's promise to end the era of celebrity politics. It appears that Gordon Brown offered GMTV's Fiona Phillips a place in cabinet and a peerage. "Mr Brown told the breakfast sofa chat queen she was "a great communicator" and offered to fast-track her into government. Fiona, 46, would have been given a seat in the House of Lords, becoming BARONESS PHILLIPS." Now why would Gordon Brown offer an impartial television presenter a job as a minister in his government? Maybe this section in the news report may give you a clue - "Fiona has never made a secret of her ardent support for the Labour Party. A guest of the Blairs at the PM's country retreat, Chequers, she has since become a close confidant of Gordon Brown. She has been derided for several gushing interviews with key Downing Street and Labour Party characters, including Cherie Blair, of whom she said on screen "Oh, you are lovely," and "You've got so much soul.""

Another impartial "news" broadcaster who seems to support the Labour party, I wonder who else Gordon might select from? Simon Mayo from BBC Radio 5 Live perhaps, James Naughtie from BBC Radio 4's Toady programme almost certainly, Jane Garvey formerly from BBC Radio 5 Live and now Womans Hour on BBC Radio 4 might be persuaded.

What's the link

Question: What links Des Lynam, Barry Norman and and Melvyn Bragg?

I'll give you a clue, it's 50 years old on Sunday 28 October 2007...


Answer: They all, briefly, presented Radio 4's Today programme. I think bringing Des Lynam back as presenter instead of James Naughtie would be an improvement, he couldn't be any more biased towards the Labour Government. Mind you Melvyn Bragg would probably be less biased and he's a Labour Peer.

BBC anti-Conservative attacks - the fightback (part 2)

I blogged recently about how the Conservatives were fighting back against BBC Bias by "1. George Osborne took a swipe at James Naughtie answering one question about Gordon Brown with "well you know him better than I do."
2. Oliver Letwin swatted the usual 'lurch to the right' question from Martha Kearney on WATO with a sharp riposte that is was a piece of Labour propaganda.
3. And best of all at a fringe debate hosted by the BBC on whether Cameron was in touch with the grass roots a conservative woman turned the tables on Martha asking her why the BBC allowed Gordon to get away with 'British jobs for British workers' rhetoric and indeed got feted for it, but if a conservative had said it they would be torn limb from limb. Funnily enough she didn't reply."

Now I read a comment on Guido Fawkes' blog that I think is a work of genius for when being interviewed by James "If we win the election" Naughtie - "...Tories on Today being interviewed by him should stop referring to "Labour" and start referring to "Your party, Jim." He makes no pretence of being impartial, so why should they have to pretend he's impartial?" Go on, who amongst the Shadow Cabinet is going to be the first to try it?

BBC anti-Conservative attacks - the fightback

Maybe the fightback has started, Oscar a contributor to the Biased BBC forums has today blogged in reply to my "Most of the public like to see fair play, how can we show that the BBC is not playing fair?"

the following "Conservatives did a bit of biting back in today's broadcasts.
1. George Osborne took a swipe at James Naughtie answering one question about Gordon Brown with "well you know him better than I do."
2. Oliver Letwin swatted the usual 'lurch to the right' question from Martha Kearney on WATO with a sharp riposte that is was a piece of Labour propaganda.
3. And best of all at a fringe debate hosted by the BBC on whether Cameron was in touch with the grass roots a conservative woman turned the tables on Martha asking her why the BBC allowed Gordon to get away with 'British jobs for British workers' rhetoric and indeed got feted for it, but if a conservative had said it they would be torn limb from limb. Funnily enough she didn't reply.

It went a small way to getting the message across - but obviously nowhere near enough to combat the shameless bias. I've also noticed that the BBC are shifting the rhetoric on the election to a triumphalist crowing that Brown has set "an elephant trap" for the Conservatives - confirming what I suspected all along, it's all been one of his stunts and he has no intention of calling an election. If people have any sense this will backfire on him - all it tells you about Brown is that he is a dodgy man who sets elephant traps. So much for 'trust'. But no doubt the BBC will come up with yet more spin to cover up for him.
Oscar | 01.10.07 - 2:20 pm |"

I spotted number 1 but I doubt that subtlety such as 1 & 2 will do much to redress the balance, I do like number 3 though...

Toady Today interview with George Osborne

The 08:10 Toady interview today is with James "If we win the election" Naughtie, I wonder if he will let George Osborne speak without interrupting too much, I wonder if he will try to hide his politically biased venom... We shall see. If I were George Osborne I would point out any interruptions and compare them with last week's interviews with Labour ministers.

Tax is the issue, apparently the stamp duty promise is a downgraded package on the 2005 manifesto- what has your party done on stamp duty James? Oh yes, raised it hugely. Inheritance tax gets away OK. Non domicile levy is being discussed, why not mention Gordon's endless broken promises to review this since before 1997. Go on George attack Gordon's record on this issue. At last George mentions Gordon's "review". Squeeze on unfair benefits claimants figures being examined, I wish Jim Naughtie would stop the heavy breathing during George Osborne's answers, most irritating and designed to show impatience with the interviewee. It would appear that Conservative ambitions are uncosted but Labour ambitions are reported as factual and unquestioned. Dreadful speech by Prime Minister remark allowed to pass by James Naughtie.

One interesting exchange was the "that will be a decision for the Prime Minister, not me" comment by George Osborne and the "do you seriously think that Tony Blair made the decision without discussing it with Gordon Brown" answer that tailed off a bit as James Naughtie realised the implications across the last 10 years Labour policies.

Nice of Nick Robinson to put so much emphasis on the word "desperate" in his opening remarks.

All in all not as biased as I feared/expected.

BBC hypocrisy

There was a segment including interviews on yesterday's Radio 4 Today programme about the huge discrepancy between the total benefit package of FTSE 100 Company directors and the average pay of their staff, a factor of 67 was quoted by the Fabian Society report. The presenter was pushing the this is quite disgusting angle, and it set me thinking that John Humphries and James "If we win the election" Naughtie are quite highly paid so I wonder how much more than the BBC average they are paid. I raised this as a query at Biased-BBC and waited...

"Arthur Dent" has come to my assistance with some figures, apparently the BBC Accounts for 2005/6 show a total staff number of 25,377 and a salary cost (not including other costs such as pensions) of approx £1,373,600,000. This gives £39,000 as the simple arithmetic mean average wage. In fact the median will be much lower because of the inclusion of some of the very high salaries at the top (Mr Ross's £18,000,000 will raise the mean by over £700 by itself). The median is probably nearer to £25,000 and that the lowest salary in the BBC is nearer to £15,000.

Jeremy Paxman is reputed to earn £1,000,000 which, if true, gives him a multiplier of 67 when compared with the lowest earning BBC staff. I wonder what John Humphries and James Naughtie do earn.

This isn't just hypocrisy it's funded by the licence fee payer hypocrisy.